In the times we are living in, using eco-friendly products is becoming more popular with each and every year. Apart from saving on your electricity bill, these allow you to act in a way that is more conscious of our environment and thus ensures a better future for generations to come.
One of the most important things for any homeowner or renter is that their outdoor space is well lit up – if this is not the case, you can’t truly enjoy spending time in your backyard or garden.
While traditional lights can do a good job when it comes to your outdoor spaces, solar lights seem to perform much better, especially when it comes to night illumination.
Investing in LED lights will also save you money and time that you would usually waste on replacing these light bulbs every couple of months. Due to the high demand, finding a product of great value for an affordable price is quite easy.
With that in mind, we decided to invest some time into proper research and come up with the list of the top solar lights for your outdoor space.
Other than that, we looked up what the critical features are for choosing this product and created a buyer’s guide and FAQs to help you with your purchasing decision. So, let’s go ahead and take a closer look at the top solar lights on offer.
Comparison Chart
LITOM Original Solar Lights Outdoor, 3 Optional Modes Wireless Motion Sensor Light with 270° Wide Angle, IP65 Waterproof, Easy-to-Install Security Lights for Front Door, Yard, Garage, Deck
Nekteck 2 Pack Solar Lights,2-in-1 Outdoor Solar Spotlights Powered Adjustable Wall Light Landscape Lighting,Bright and Dark Sensing,Auto On/Off for Yard, Pathway, Walkway, Garden, Driveway
Aootek 182 Led Solar outdoor motion sensor lights upgraded Solar Panel to 15.3 in2 and 3 modes(Security/ Permanent On all night/ Smart brightness control )with IP65 Waterproof with Wide Angle(2pack)
URPOWER Solar Lights, 2-in-1 Waterproof 4 LED Solar Spotlight Adjustable Wall Light Landscape Light Security Lighting Dark Sensing Auto On/Off for Patio Deck Yard Garden Driveway Pool Area(2 Pack)
Best Solar Lights Reviews
LITOM Original Solar Lights Outdoor
Affordable, attractive, and durable is just what these LITOM solar lights are. Ideal for your front door, deck, garage door, or yard, these are the solution you need for outdoor lighting. And the best thing? The brand that stands behind this product is reputable and is one of the most trusted when it comes to solar lights and other relevant products.
Product Highlights
If you are looking to get optimal results and great outdoor lighting, you are in the right place. Whether you decide to go for a single lamp, invest in a 2- or a 4-pack, you will be making the right decision.
Apart from coming from a great brand, these solar lights are made out of ABS plastic and are IP65 waterproof rated and that ensures resistances under harsh weather conditions.
On top of all that, it is good to know that this product is made according to the latest FCC standards and that it comes with a 36-month warranty, thus ensuring a much better lifespan than with most of its competitors.
These solar LED lights are to be charged during the day and once full, they can provide great illumination for up to 8 hours at a time.
There are a few convenient modes, including medium, dim light, and sensor mode. Out of all, it is the sensor mode that seems to be the most important one – once motion is detected the area will be lit for 20 seconds unless more motion is detected during that time, in which case the duration will be prolonged.
One of the most important things about any solar light is the area that it can illuminate – for this light, we are talking about 200 square meters per single light, which can count up to 800 square meters if you have four or more turned on at the same time.
How do you install these? By mounting it to the garage or front door. Bright, and with great battery life, these lights will allow you to enjoy optimal results during the night.
Still, the main concern with this product seems to be that the lamps are kind of small if your garage doors are bigger and thus you may not be satisfied with the area covered.
Also, it would be much better if the batteries included with these lamps had a longer life. Other than that, you are looking at great value and high-quality customer service.
The Good
We like more than a few things about this product. First of all, it is the design that comes with this lamp that we love – sturdy and elegant, it is going to be a great addition to your garage or door.
Along with that, the three lighting modes that are included are there to ensure adequate brightness depending on the time of the day. Not to forget, these solar lamps are extremely easy to mount and install, so even if you are new to the concept, it shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.
The Bad
On the other hand, if we are looking at the area these lamps will cover, they are not ideal for anyone who has a huge backyard. Along with that, what you are expecting to get with LED lamps is durability.
While you can expect more than 30,000 hours out of these, the battery included is not of the best quality, so it may not perform as well as some of its other competitors.
PROS
- checkAffordable
- Sturdy design
- Three convenient modes
- Easy to install
CONS
- Small
- Battery Life
- ListElement
Nekteck Solar Lights Outdoor
If you are looking to invest in a versatile set of solar lights, you are in luck as these Nekteck solar lamps are just the right choice for you. Offering a 2-in-1 installation process as a great solution for lighting up your outdoor space, this model is affordable, sturdy, and attractive which is what such a product should be.
Product Highlights
The Nekteck brand is one of the most trusted names on the market and it is a fact that their development team does a great job in manufacturing high-quality solar lights at an affordable price. This particular model is their fourth generation and as such offers much more illumination and a longer battery life that can be compared to the best on the market.
Each light has 200 lumens and can cover quite a large area around your yard, garden, patio, or driveway. There are a number of features that make this product perfect for your outdoor space.
First of all, the lights can run on two different modes, including low and high. Additionally, once charged (during the day), these can be on for more than 10 hours continuously.
As for the design, they are made out of high-density IPS and ABS material and are highly resistant to weather such as frost, rain, snow, and other harsh conditions.
They can be rotated to 90 and 180 degrees, thus allowing you to have optimal light in the given areas. Just as we mentioned above, this product can be installed 2 ways — whether you want to mount it to a wall or stick it in the ground, both are possible.
Made according to the latest quality standards and with a 2-year warranty, this product holds great value. Apart from the fact that these lights are kind of bulky and not the brightest, you are going to get great performance at a fine price.
The Good
The first thing that we love about this product is two different modes that you can adjust according to what time of day it is. Also, the product is sturdy and made of great material that ensures you can use these lights no matter what season it is.
The Bad
On the other hand, the biggest concern seems to be that the product is quite bulky compared to the amount of light that it emits. Additionally, the color itself could be warmer.
PROS
- checkAffordable
- Sturdy design
- Two convenient modes
- 2-in-1 installation
CONS
- Quite bulky
- Low brightness
Aootek Solar Lights
Looking at this 2-pack of Aootek lights, it is a great buy for anyone who is on a tight budget but doesn’t want to miss the potential advantages of lighting up their outdoor space with solar lamps.
Product Highlights
The first thing that we love about this model is that it comes in a 2-pack at a fair and reasonable price. Looking at the previous generations, this light offers greater brightness and a warm white light that is perfect for gardens, backyards, walkways, etc.
Another feature that comes with it is a precise motion sensor that can detect the slightest moving objects, including a small dog or cat, which is ideal for nighttime.
One of the most important things when it comes to solar lights is the battery that it runs on and this one is 2,200 mAh which can provide you with more than 8 hours of continuous on-time once fully charged. With this in mind, you can be sure that this model will provide excellent performance during the night.
Talking about the design, it is sturdy and comes with a waterproof shell and protection to prevent overheating. As for the performance itself, you are looking at a solar panel that can convert the energy up to 20% faster than an average one.
Still, it is not the most reliable during the cold weather. Also, the customer service doesn’t seem to be ideal. Other than that, they are a great buy and are lights that offer good performance in almost any season.
The Good
There are a number of cool features that make this product one of our favorite solar lights out there. The main one seems to be the motion detector that is extremely sensitive and thus ideal if you are turning the lights off during the night.
Along with that, the three convenient modes are great, of which the auto on/off one seems to be the best. This feature is extremely important for high-quality solar lights.
The Bad
On the other hand, if you are living somewhere where it is cold throughout the year, you may not get the best results from these lights. Additionally, we would be more than happy to see a customer service team that is not sluggish as this.
PROS
- checkAffordable
- Sturdy design
- 3 convenient modes
- Great brightness
CONS
- Customer service could be faster
- Not great in cold conditions
URPOWER Solar Lights
Looking to get the best value for your money? Take a look at these URPOWER solar lights that are put out as highly efficient, affordable, and durable lights to support your outdoor space.
Product Highlights
Much like with the aforementioned products, this model is the third generation of its kind from the same brand, and guess what? It is the best one made yet. Improved brightness, warm white light, and long-lasting batteries are what make this product a great choice.
There are a number of points that we would like to highlight – first of all, it is extremely easy to install and you can either mount these to a wall or stick them in the ground.
Also, made out of great material these lights can endure through harsh and heavy weather conditions. What we love is that the lamps are adjustable so you can direct the brightness towards the area that needs it the most. With a 2,200 mAh battery, you can expect up to 9 hours of continuous performance once fully charged.
Each lamp has 4 LED bulbs which count as 200 lumens per one (while you are getting 2 in a pack).
The solar panel is quite efficient and you can expect a fully charged lamp in just a few hours (on a sunny day). Still, one concern is that these need direct sunlight in order to acquire enough power. Also, the plastic that it is made out of becomes brittle after a few months.
Other than that, it is a product worth your attention as a choice that is good for anyone who wants great outdoor lighting.
The Good
The design itself is quite attractive and offers good performance that counts to 200 lumens per a single lamp. Also, with the auto on/off mode included, you are sure to get optimal lighting results during the dark hours of the day.
The Bad
As for the things that we don’t like, we have to mention that direct sunlight is not something that you can expect every day which presents a problem if the battery is running low.
PROS
- checkAffordable
- Great brightness
- Easy to install
- 200 Lumens per lamp
CONS
- Direct sunlight required for power
- Brittle plastic build
BAXIA TECHNOLOGY Solar Lights
Last but not least on our list of the top solar lights is this pack of 4 lamps that offer great illumination both during the day and night.
Product Highlights
While the brand itself is not as reputable as the URPOWER one, you are still getting great quality and a good limited warranty period of 180 days. It doesn’t include dim mode, but that is to ensure the best lifetime and great motion detection of up to 5 meters.
Once the sensor is activated, the light stays on for the next 30 seconds or so. Heat- and water-resistant, the design is quite sturdy and you should expect these to run well during almost any season.
By charging these for a couple of hours during the day, you are sure to get exquisite performance once night comes. This is due to the 28 led bulbs running simultaneously. While the installation process is quite easy, we have to say that the lights seem to come loose unless you support the grip with something.
Also, the plastic that these lamps are made of could be sturdier. Apart from that, a great model that is worth every penny.
The Good
It offers brightness and illumination over a wide area. Along with that, the motion sensor is quite precise and can detect any movement just meters away.
The Bad
It doesn’t include dim mode and is not the best choice if you are used to products that are sturdy and made out of ABS plastic.
PROS
- checkAffordable
- Good brightness
- Heat and water-resistant
- Easy installation
CONS
- Brittle plastic
- No dim mode
Solar Lights Buyer’s Guide
We always like to emphasize the importance of the certain features that a product needs to include. If you do proper research, you will be able to make the perfect purchasing decision for your needs.
When it comes to solar lights, it all comes down to the material they are made out of, along with brightness, and different modes that a certain model can feature. Bearing this in mind, let’s take a look at the points you should consider when investing in such a product.
Types of Solar Lights
There are a number of different types of solar lights, of which some are better for some purposes than others. Other than decorative solar lights, which are there as an addition to your outdoor space (for aesthetics), we would like to mention floodlight, wall, and path solar lights.
The flood solar lights are great for illuminating a whole yard, backyard, or a pathway as these are stuck into the ground. The wall solar light options are perfect for areas in front of the garage and front door. Last but not least, we are talking about pathway solar lights — these are ideal to be put along the walkway and thus ensure that everyone has a safe path to your house.
Brightness and Lightning Duration
These are probably the most important points that can be a deal-breaker when it comes to solar lights.
A good solar light should be able to run for at least 8 hours whether it is day or night. On the other hand, when it comes to brightness, it all comes down to the number of lumens that a bulb can emit. A perfect example is the URPOWER lights that have 200 lumens per lamp.
Battery Type and Capacity
The ideal battery type is Li-ion that has at least 1200 mAh while everything above that is a plus. A battery that can be charged in a matter of 8 hours and allow performance for the same amount of time or more should be considered a good one.
Intelligent Features
The main intelligent feature that you should be looking for is a motion sensor that can detect any movement from a few meters away. Other than that, a solar lamp with an auto on/off feature is a great choice.
In addition, make sure that you give the solar panel a wipe down every now and then, and check that there are no breaks in the housing that can cause any issues.
Weatherproof
Last but not least, if you are already looking into some of the top solar lights out there you should know that water and heat resistant features are among the most important points in the game. If your solar light can run throughout the whole year, you are in a winning situation.
F.A.Q.
What comprises solar lighting?
A solar light will typically comprise of a solar panel, the LED lights, the casing, and the means of attaching the light to your wall or a stake to stick it in the ground.
How do you charge solar lights for the first time?
This is done the same way as any other time. Put your solar lights in direct sunlight preferably, and let the battery charge for at least 8 hours. Check to see whether the ‘on’ switch needs to be pushed or not during the charging period.
How long do solar lights last?
It all depends on the model and the intensity of usage, but most good ones come with a 30,000+ hours guarantee, and most will be able to run for a minimum of 8 hours on a single charge.
How to take care of solar lights?
Always follow the instructions in the user’s manual and ensure that the solar lights are used during the correct weather conditions. You should periodically dust off or wipe down the solar panel to remove any dust or dirt that accumulates to keep them in optimal light-collecting mode.
Should solar lights be left out in the winter?
Once again, it all depends on the model. A good solar light will be waterproof and made out of high-quality ABS plastic that can endure through harsher weather conditions.
FINAL VERDICT
Talking about the top solar lights, our personal favorite are those coming from the URPOWER brand. These are affordable, sturdy, and come with a number of innovative features to support your everyday needs. At the end of the day, you are the one that will make the decision – we are there to give you insight and make the whole process just a bit easier.
